My students need 2 solar system kits, space scratch art, and a variety of books about the planets, with vivid pictures, to spark their interest in researching our Solar System.
Did you know it would take 1.3 million Earths to fill up the sun? Beginning a unit on our Solar System with questions I present or my students create helps foster their natural curiosity. My students have access to computers but lack "real" books about space with exceptional pictures.
My students all have special needs.
I teach 4th, 5th, and 6th graders in a self-contained classroom setting in an urban environment. Some students are Autistic, some have learning disabilities, and some have emotional issues which influence their motivation to learn. My job and goal is to find topics and materials to match such a diverse group. I teach my students for several years. At the end of each school year I have my students fill out a survey so I can determine what interests them enough to keep them reading and exploring. The winner at the end of this past year was space exploration!
My Project
With the books I am requesting, I will be able to set up an interest table about space. The books will be out for the entire year. This has proven to be a successful learning strategy as students are drawn to read together in pairs or small groups, develop their own questions to explore independently, and they all love finding unbelievable information they can share. I know it works when I hear, "Mrs. M did you know....?" I am an avid believer in technology for student learning but I do know "real, hands-on, turn the paper page" books are a wonderful way to inspire reluctant learners. I am requesting these books with the memory of my students' voices in my ears begging me to teach about the Solar System!
Currently we have very few books about the planets.
I am sad to say it would not be enough to fill an interest table about the Solar System. If you could help us out, we all would appreciate it. Your book donations will help motivate my discouraged learners.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Mohiser and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.